Vanderbilt Hosts Documentary on Prison Education Program
The law school featured a film showcasing a college course taught inside an Oregon prison.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Vanderbilt Law School held a screening of the 39-minute documentary Classroom 4, which highlights a college course taught within an Oregon prison. The event featured a discussion with the director, Professor Reiko Hillyer, and a formerly incarcerated student.
Why it matters
The program aims to foster connections between incarcerated and nonincarcerated students through shared educational experiences. It demonstrates the impact of collaborative learning within the correctional system.
The documentary details a course featuring 15 incarcerated and 15 nonincarcerated students that requires weekly Friday meetings. The film also documents systemic conditions, noting that 73 people in the facility share only three toilets.
The players
Reiko Hillyer
She is a professor who has taught The History of Crime and Punishment in the United States inside a prison since 2012.
Vanderbilt Law School
This Nashville-based institution hosted the screening of the documentary short Classroom 4.
The details
Professor Reiko Hillyer has led the course, The History of Crime and Punishment in the United States, inside the prison since 2012. The curriculum utilizes abolitionist texts and historical frameworks to bridge the gap between students from different backgrounds.
Timeline
Professor Reiko Hillyer began teaching the course inside the prison in 2012.
Filming for the documentary took place during the spring 2023 academic semester.
The documentary won Best Documentary at the 2025 Aspen Shortsfest.
Vanderbilt Law School hosted the film screening on October 27, 2026.
Legal Context
The documentary follows the pedagogical model established by the Inside-Out Prison Exchange program. This approach reflects a broader shift toward integrating higher education within correctional facilities to address systemic issues in the United States judicial system.
The screening serves as a public engagement tool for residents interested in the intersection of education and criminal justice reform. Attendees gained insight into the daily realities of incarcerated students and the specific methods used to provide college-level instruction in prisons.
The takeaway
Classroom 4 provides a look at how academic environments can function within the constraints of the prison system. The film is currently shortlisted for a Best Documentary Short Film award at the 98th Academy Awards.
Further reading
Learn more about local proceedings in the Criminal Justice section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Vanderbilt Hustler.
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Should universities offer college-level courses to individuals currently serving time in prison?
